If you’re still ful of doubts, check the PPT presentation you saw in the class.

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Our world

Scientists think that the Earth is 4.54 billion years old, which means that the planet has gone through a lot of transformations to become the world we know today.

Humankind is much younger (some say just 200,000 years old) yet we are leaving a huge footprint. Population growth, progress and consumerism are having strong impact on our home, planet Earth, and problably changing its living conditions forever.

Our world is being affected in several ways. Look at the picture below↓:

Can you identify the problems above↑ (clockwise)?

F_ _D SH_ RT_ G

GL _B _L W _ RM_ N G

G R_ _ NH _US _ _ F F_ C T

_Z_ N_ L _Y_ R D _PL_ T_ _N

W_ T_ R S H_ R T_ G_

S _ _L C_N T_ M_ N_ T_ _N

_ X T_ N C T_ _ N

W_S T _ D_ S P_ S _ L

To train your listening skills and simultaneously revise vocabulary, try this link and do the exercises proposed there.

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Letters of complaint

When we buy goods, we expect things to work properly, but sometimes they don’t. When it is not possible to resolve the problem personally, then we should complain in writing. Usually it is a lot more effective.

In that case there are procedures to respect if we want to do things right.

As this is a formal letter, the layout has also rigid norms to comply with.

The two most common formats are these two below. You can either start all the paragraphs on the left or put the sender’s address and the date on the right.

As for the content, your letter you should include the following:

describe what you purchased, as well as where and when,

explain why you are not happy with the purchase,

tell them what you would like them to do about the situation,

indicate a deadline for the resolution of the problem.

Look at this model:

Now, try to write one yourself. Imagine you have recently ordered an item through the Internet, but are not happy with the purchase. Write to the company.

When you finish, refer to the following link to compare the original with your letter.

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ADVERTISING

Advertising is almost as old as humankind. From the ancient Egyptian papyrus messages to the current neon lights advertising has changed a lot. Yet, the goals are basically the same: to make you aware of a certain product, to remind you of its existence and lead you to some sort of action.

Advertising has a lot of influence upon our lives. Owing to that, we all should know a little about its techniques and tricks.

Wherever you find them and whatever the medium used advertising tends to make us move towards a final action using four basic steps known as AIDA. This acronym stands for attention or awareness, interest, desire and action which usually means acquiring the product, joining the organisation, etc.

How does this model apply to the ads or adverts we see in print or online?

Look at this this online page. Words and images lead us to the same goal: the call to action button.

Print ads usually displayfour main elements: the headline, the illustration, the copy and the signature.

The signature usually consists of a logo, a slogan or tagline and a contact.

Now try to find the same elements in the following advert:

Is any of these elements missing?

Headline?

Illustration?

Copy?

Logo?

Slogan?

What about the strategy used here? Find your answer below.

To make you buy, marketeers use all sorts of strategies. Take a look at this list and try to identify some ads they may apply to.

If you want to create your own ad in four quick steps, follow this link and you’ll see an instant commercial:

Try to identify the mistakes in this first stanza. How many can you identify?

Early, I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Thinking about the things that we could be
But baby, I’ve been, I’ve been crying hard,
Said, no more chasing dollars
We’ll be hunting stars, yeah we’ll be hunting stars

How many extra words are there?

I see in this life like a swinging vine
Swing my heart across the line fine
And my face now is flashing signs
Seek it out and you shall find me

Now what’s missing?

_________, but I’m not that _________
Young, but I’m not that _________
I don’t think the world is ______
I’m just doing what we’re _______
I feel something so right
Doing the ________ thing
I feel something so _________
Doing the right thing
I could lie, couldn’t I, could lie
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

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Expressing contrast and concession

Connectors are very important to make the texts we write more cohesive.

There are many different types, but today we are simply going to sonsider the ones used to express contrast or concession, that means when ideas seem to diverge.

Look at the list below:

They all introduce a note of contrast and disagreement, but they have different ways of being used in the sentences. For example their placement may vary. Some are more often used at the beginning, some at the end and others in the middle.

Besides their position, they also require different types of completion. Note the differences in the explanation below:

Although / though / even though (Port. embora) – need a full clause (subject + verb).

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Shop till you drop

With the new marketing strategies and advertising campaigns, shopping looks more like a modern pastime than simply an answer to our needs. More and more people do it for fun, not out of need. Nobody knows whether this is a good change or just a new form of allienation.

While you listen, try to figure out which word is missing. They all have to do with MONEY, of course.

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the ________ I have to pay
Ain’t it sad
And still there never seems to be a single ________ left for me
That’s too bad
In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a __________ man
I wouldn’t have to work at all, I’d fool around and have a ball…

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the __________ man’s world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the _________ man’s world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little _________
It’s a rich man’s world

A man like that is hard to find but I can’t get him off my mind
Ain’t it sad
And if he happens to be free I bet he wouldn’t fancy me
That’s too bad
So I must leave, I’ll have to go
To Las Vegas or Monaco
And win a _________ in a game, my life will never be the same…

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Used to vs be/get used to

Used to + infinitive – refers to past habits which are no longer true.

Be used to or get used to + gerund – refer to something you have become accustomed to (past, present or future).

Ex: In the 1950’s computers used to be big and heavy. Meanwhile we got used to carrying around our light-weight laptops, tablets or even smart phones. Soon we will get used to havingour computers in our wristwatches or in our glasses.

As used to is a phrase in the past, we have to use “did” and “didn’t” as auxiliares in the interrogative and negative sentences.

Ex: When I was a child, I didn’t useto have a computer in my room. Did you use to have one?

As for be or get used to, it depends on the verb and verb tense you are using. Look:

My mother isn’t used tomaking phone calls on her new smart phone. She didn’t get used to it. (Past)

– Will she get used to her flip phone? (Future)

She will not get used to it. She is used to her old mobile. (Future/Present)